News
Sande Webster Gallery closes
We heard it through the grapevine, Philadelphia’s groundbreaking Sande Webster Gallery closed its doors after more than four decades. Confirmed by Robin Rice of CityPaper, Webster has apparently had trouble during the recession. The gallery was founded as and continued to be a racially-diverse establishment that gave many young and emerging black artists as well as other young artists a place to show and sell their works. Webster herself will not be absent from the Philly scene, according to Rice. She will consult from home and collaborate with organizations around the city. Check out our podcast with Sande Webster for more on the history of her gallery and to get the flavor of this unique gallerist.
Warren Angle memorial
The memorial for Warren Angle is Saturday October 29 from 3-7 PM at Bartram’s Garden. Bartram’s is a place that was dear to the late artist’s heart ( Warren had a show there in the 90s). In celebration of his love of costume, feel free to dress for Halloween. Around 5 pm there will be a Quaker-style time for sharing. Bring stories, memories, and images to share.
Knight Arts Challenge hosts town hall/web chat
The Knight Foundation hosts two information sessions this month for those interested in applying to the “great idea” challenge for Philadelphia, year 2. Everybody is invited to the Town Hall meeting on October 17 at 6 PM at the Live Arts Studio 919 N 5th St. For even more information, there will be a live web chat on October 27 at KnightArts.org. The deadline to apply is October 31.
Also Knight-noteworthy is the Philadelphia winner of the Knight Arts Journalism Challenge — Jason Wilson of the Philadelphia Daily News, whose project is to partner with Drexel faculty, students and others, to widen the arts coverage at the paper. Congrats!
American Philosophical Society free play!
Popular Philly Fringe Fest play A Paper Garden is back by popular demand – and for free! The play has two free performances this weekend, October 15 and 16 at noon, at the APS Jefferson Garden, facing 104 South Fifth Street. Check it out, play lovers!
Dialogo 365 @ Crane Arts
Dialogo 365 – the largest exhibition of Latino art in the Philadelphia region — opened at Crane Arts and will be there until October 25. The exhibition celebrates Venezuela’s Bicentennial of Independence.
Battle of the Canvas
The Battle of the Canvas has been moved to Trust at 249 Arch Street. The battle takes place on November 6 from 11 AM – 7 PM.
The Box Project hits Occupy Wall St.
Abbigael Beddall will distribute 500 handmade art boxes to individuals at the Occupy Wall Street site this Saturday, Oct. 15, noon-2pm. The artist, who made 1,000 boxes in total, will distribute the other 500 in Washington, DC. She sees the project as a way to “stimulate the economy while highlighting our failed systems of value,” she said. She values the boxes at $2,178,508,724. The distribution point is Wall Street next to the bull’s ass, she said. In early 2009 Beddall began making 1000 handmade boxes. They are numbered, priced and fully documented and will be given free in exchange for a signature in her catalogue, which is like a receipt or petition.
Occupy Philly Arts & More
I had the opportunity to check out the Occupy Philly movement down at City Hall a number of times. While I spent a good deal of my time drumming and keeping time for the drum circles and musicians, I also stopped by the art committee (although those two are not unrelated).
On Thursday they held The Panic Hour – a podcast comedy show. Machete Group – part of Marginal Utility – will be holding a symposium on “Resistance and Revolution” at 6 PM, Sat., Oct. 15. You can show up at the occupation anytime (it is 24/7!) and use any of the donated art supplies and cardboard to create a sign to express yourself and your political beliefs. There are also a number of tentative events in the works that include music, poetry readings, open mics, a revolutionary film night, and more comedy events. I will be reporting periodically about Occupy Philadelphia’s goings on.
Opportunities
Hotel Palomar holds first annual “Philly Finds” scavenger hunt for locals and hotel guests next weekend. Using the iPhone and Android mobile application “Scavenger Hunt with Friends — $0.99 at iTunes,” all willing participants go on a weekend hunt for Philadelphia’s coolest stuff, October 14th through October 17th. Prizes include iPods, iPads and hotel stays (guess where).
Louisa Lowenstein and PenTales are excited to announce the opening of the Hemingway Room in Berlin and a contest where you can get 3-4 days free at the small room in Prenzlauer Berg, one of the city’s most inspiring and creative neighborhoods. The only requirement is that you produce creative work during your stay – writing, photography, drawing, filmmaking – anything goes! Contact louisa_lowenstein@hotmail.com with your intended stay in Berlin and samples of your work. Open deadline.
For all you New Yorkers out there, this one is weird but came in through White Columns. Artist Jadranka Kosorcic will be hosting “blind dates” in which you simply show up and sit for your portrait. She has been doing this all over since 1995, and is currently resident artist at ISCP New York.
Talenthouse wants you to submit ideas to its Green Box Project. The team will then transform your vision into an augmented reality piece that will be featured at the temporary Becks Green Boxes set up across the globe and at The Green Box Project’s virtual gallery.
Shelley Spector will be hosting a free digital embroidery workshop on October 29 at NextFab.
Ladies! Want to hear about money targeted to women entrepreneurs? Rachel Dukeman hosts an information session on the $15,000 Turning Point Prize for Social Entrepreneurs through Women for Social Innovation. The session is Wednesday, October 19 · 9 AM – 10:30 AM at the Philadelphia United Way office, 7 Ben Franklin Parkway.
Artist News
Tim Eads is pretty busy these days. He is in upcoming shows at Southwestern Michigan College, New Wilmington Art Association, and November 11 at Little Berlin. Eads is also on the lecture circuit, giving talks at Mercer County Community College and Penn State School of Visual Arts.
Richard Torchia and Greenhouse Media just launched a new public art piece at the Race Street Connector, the path connecting the city to the sexy Race Street Pier on the Delaware. The new are piece is the city’s first technology-based Percent for Art commission, says Arts and Culture czar, Gary Steuer.
Matthew Cox was featured recently in an article for Wired U.K. in which they explore his process of embroidering faces onto MRIs and X-rays.
Amze Emmons and Kevin Haas have a show opening on October 30 at Christina Ray in SoHo. Listen to our podcast with Emmons to hear more about his interesting prints and drawings.
